Survey shows a majority think the environment will be affected “to some extend” or more.

The environmental consequences of the construction of the Fixed
Link are a major focus in the German debate, as they were in
Denmark before the construction of the Great Belt Link and in
Sweden before the construction of the Øresund Link.

The population in the three countries is, of course, concerned
about this issue: between 33 and 41 per cent of the populations
think that the environment will be affected "to some extent" (fig.
4.a). 22 per cent of Danes think that it will be "highly" or "very
highly" affected, 16 per cent of Swedes have the same view along
with 31 per cent of Germans. Between 15 and 25 per cent think that
the environment will only be affected to a small extent by the
link.

In Germany, there is no significant difference between the
degree of concern in Schleswig-Holstein where 30 per cent are
highly concerned and Hamburg with 32 per cent, whereas almost twice
as many women are "highly" or "very highly" concerned than men, 40
per cent against 21. We see the same in both Denmark and Sweden
where women are more concerned about the environment than men.

- It is only natural that at this stage of the project is a big
concern for the environment. We have seen in the major
infrastructure projects in Denmark and Sweden. But concerns have
indeed shown themselves very much to be unfounded in the
construction phase and the societal benefits of the projects have
dominated after they are taken into operation, says Managing
Director Jacob Vestergaard, STRING

Fig. 4.a: The environment is part of the discussion around the
Fixed Link across the Fehmarnbelt. To what extent do you think the
environment (flora, fauna around the link) will be
affected?

Note: YouGov conducted this survey on
behalf of STRING. The 806 interviews were conducted in Hamburg and
Schleswig-Holstein, 505 in Skåne and 505 in Zealand using the
so-called CAWI-interview method between November
3rd and November 11th - and thus
before the new report of December 12th on a further delay in the
planning procedure for FBFL. The survey was conducted via YouGov's
online-panel.

STRING partners

STRING is a political cross-border partnership between Akershus County and Østfold County in Norway, Region Halland, Region Västra Götaland, Region Skåne and the City of Malmö in Sweden, the City of Copenhagen, the Capital Region of Denmark and Region Zealand in Denmark, Schleswig-Holstein and the City of Hamburg and in Germany.